Josh Beckett doesn't get it

What does Josh Beckett think of last season's "Beer and Chicken" fiasco that was brought up after the Red Sox epic collapse?

Just last week, Josh Beckett surfaced to give his side of last year's chicken-and-beer uproar.

Until this, Beckett had been heard only through a prepared statement in October. Like John Lackey, he had grudgingly conceded the pitchers could have behaved differently, but he took exception to reports of drinking on the bench.

Those reports, unlike the chicken-and-beer stories, have not gained credibility. Major media seems to have largely dismissed them.

Otherwise, Beckett attributed his silence to a preoccupation with caring for his infant daughter. Explanation accepted.

That does not change the disturbing fact that Beckett does not seem to get it. And he won't, until he stops talking as if the real crime was not in being guilty but in getting caught.

What happens in the clubhouse should stay there, he said, rather than leak out to the public.

(Sigh) Here's the issue with this situation. When you're watching the Rays and Yankees, the entire teams up on the top step in close games, guys seem to genuinely like one another, there's plenty of joking around, it looks like they're having fun out there. That's what you need with a baseball team, you need it to feel like a team. No surprise, they made the playoffs.

When your starting pitchers and team leaders cut out early to go in the clubhouse from some KFC and Coors Light, what does that say to the rest of the team? It shows a lack of focus, and a disregard for the importance of the team.

Enjoy the Boston media this year, Josh!

Epic Photo: Hockey at Fenway Park

Many former Boston Bruins players were on hand to test the ice at Fenway Park in preparation for the upcoming Winter Classic on Jan. 1st to be played between the Bruins and Flyers.

Somebody please tell me that the Green Monster will somehow come into the field of play during this game.

Vandals get some play in the Boston Globe

People are starting to take notice of the plucky Idaho Vandals, which have shown signs of revival with a 4-1 record going into today's game against San Jose State. Boston.com has this little nugget on them...

Looking for a feel-good team? Look to Moscow. Moscow, Idaho, that is. The Idaho Vandals are making some noise in the Western Athletic Conference, off to a 4-1 start and looking to steal a little thunder from Boise State. Idaho, which was an abysmal 3-21 the past two seasons, stunned Colorado State at the Kibbie Dome last week and is led by quarterback Nathan Enderle (1,293 yards, 8 TDs) and tailback DeMaundray Woolridge (56 rushes, 357 yards, 6 TDs). The Vandals’ loss came at Washington in Week 2. Idaho visits San Jose State tomorrow, and coach Robb Akey’s team has a shot at being 10-1 when it travels to Boise’s blue turf Nov. 14

Found this on Huckleberries Online. I'm really glad people are starting to get behind the Vandals because they deserve the support after years of being terrible. If you like rooting for the little guy, throw away that UW jersey and get Vandalized because here comes Idaho!

Epic Video: Brandon's Dream Girl

Some people find this annoying. I find it hot.



Thanks to the USS Mariner for finding this gem.

I've noticed something about the Boston sports scene...

Observe some of the popular sports figures in Boston...






If I didn't know the complete bio of Captian Jean Luc-Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation, I would have assumed he was from Boston. What is it with everyone being bald in that city? Might need to check the water.

 
Oh wait... maybe not. Thanks Randy Moss!

And We are BACK

First of all, we at Just South of North would like to apologize for the lack of posts. We have been very busy with school, and somehow I have found myself in Montana. Yes, Montana of all places.

And since, despite what many people think, they do have Internet and electricity in Montana, I will do my best to keep updating the site. Thanks for hanging with us.

Boston finally decided to stop toying with the Hawks and just finished them. And they did so by DESTROYING them. Yeah, 99-65. Wow. You almost feel bad for Atlanta. Being such huge underdogs and then having all the hope in the world coming into game 7. Only to have your hopes dashed right from the go. I personally think the Celtics were giving the Hawks a chance so they weren't discovered for their own Spygate scandal.

Here is a great link about all the rundowns of spring football around the PAC-10. Perhaps the most interesting happened at UCLA, in which the starting QB went down, and then the next play so did the backup. And it doesn't look too good.

Patrick Cowan, who'd nudged ahead of Ben Olson in April, tore the ACL in his left knee during practice and is expected to miss the season. Minutes after Cowan was hurt, Olson broke a bone in his foot and will be out up to two months recovering from surgery.

When it comes to horse racing, I never really pay much attention. But the tragedy at the Kentucy Derby this year with Eight Belles is really just sad. But here is a really great photo slide show from the event. Click here.

And as far as Montana goes, there are still a ton of Grizzly fans here. But after spending 10 months surrounded by Nebraska fans, maybe they aren't so bad...awww...who am I kidding?

Why the Red Sox will win the World Series

Boy weren't fun in 2004 when the Sox finally reversed the curse?And since then, the obvious baseball blasphemy of the film Fever Pitch and every Red Sox fans becoming immediately more unbearable than people who use bluetooths, Boston managed to overcome those obstacles and win another World Series title in 2007 and will do it again this year.

How did they manage to even outdo the treacherous Yankees and their evil empire?Beat the Yankee's at their own game. Spend money. And it has worked wonderfully.Instead of spending that money on risky or aging players (As New York has, throwing out cash like Pacman Jones at a strip club), the Sox have found the perfect mix between free agency and prospects.

They've been able to keep the key guys that are the heart and soul of this team. Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez still call Fenway their home and keep the Red Sox lineup more formidable than a fat person at Granny's Buffet.And say what you will about Manny being Manny, but he rises to the occasion. So does the rest of these guys on the roster.

They know when its time to step up and do something, hence their amazing post season success.They've also been able to weather the whole Eric Gagne debacle, and even got JD Drew to do something when the cards were down (Much to the shock and awe of every LA Dodger fan in the universe).

Then there's the pitching staff. Jonathan Papelbon is an Irish-jig dancing, save-machine gift from the baseball gods. Josh Beckett is Josh Beckett, coming through in the clutch more times than John McClane from Die Hard. Dice-K once struck out his shadow.

And if you don't root for cancer-survivor Jon Lester, you don't have a heart.

And these guys are very comfortable with one another. They faced a 3-1 deficit in the ALCS last year against the Cleveland Indians and won three straight games to head into the World Series against the Rockies, who were a really fun AAA squad from the National League.

And they pulled off that magical comeback without even looking like they were breaking a sweat.So you've got pitching, a solid lineup, chemistry and the greatest ballpark in baseball.

What else do you need for a solid run to the championship? A rally monkey? Please.The Boston Red Sox have one of the most solid rosters in baseball, and they'll be a force come October.